However, while there are numerous shows and movies about American presidents — from “Frost/Nixon” in 2008 to “Lincoln” in 2012, and so on — there are very few (if any) that are centered on any of the First Ladies (or first ladies-to-be) of the United States. The upcoming Showtime anthology series “The First Lady,” which will tell the stories of women in the White House, will change all of that.
Viola Davis will produce and star in the Showtime series, which was created by Aaron Cooley and originally planned to be titled “First Ladies” (via Deadline). Cooley is writing the series, which will be his second screenwriting credit. According to Deadline, Cooley has also written several novels, including “Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court” and “The Guns of Ridgewood,” which will be his second screenwriting credit.
Davis is co-producing with Julius Tennon through their company, JuVee Productions, along with Cathy Schulman of Welle Entertainment, Jeff Gaspin of Gaspin Media, and Brad Kaplan of Gaspin Media. Showtime and Lionsgate Television are also involved in the production.
The following is what Jana Winograd, President of Entertainment at Showtime Networks, had to say in a statement: “Throughout our nation’s history, presidents’ spouses have wielded extraordinary power, not only over the nation’s leaders but also over the entire country. In the Showtime wheelhouse of drama and politics, [The First Lady] is a perfect fit, revealing how much personal relationships have an impact on both domestic and global events.”
What Is the Release Date of the First Lady?
As of right now, no official release date has been revealed for “The First Lady,” with the Showtime website for the series only stating that it will be “coming soon” when it does. However, according to IMDB, it will premiere in 2022, which at the very least indicates that we will begin watching episodes the following year. Additionally, according to The Covington News, filming began in Covington, Georgia, in February of this year, and will continue until the end of the year.
We do know that individuals who are working behind the scenes are enthusiastic about the initiative that is now underway. The announcement that Susanne Bier would direct and executive produce “The First Lady” came after Amy Israel, the EVP of Scripted Programming at Showtime Networks, released a statement about her expectations for the series.
Bier is an established director who has helmed films such as “The Undoing” in 2020 and “The Night Manager” in 2016. The following is the text of her statement: “Susanne is a visionary director who commands the screen with fierce honesty and a distinct visual style. She has won numerous awards for her work. We couldn’t be more excited –– especially at this historic juncture in our nation’s history –– about the powerful promise of The First Lady, thanks to the presence of these formidable artists in front of and behind the camera “.
If Israel’s enthusiasm is any indication, it appears like the wait for “The First Lady” will be well worth it for expectant television watchers. In the meantime, individuals who are interested can read about a flood of casting announcements to keep them occupied until the series finally launches next year if they so desire.
Who Will Be the First Lady?
The first performer to be interested was Viola Davis, who will play Michelle Obama in the film. Davis’s most recent films are “The Suicide Squad,” which will be released in 2021, and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which will be released in 2020 and earned her an Academy Award nomination. O-T Fagbenle, who portrays former President Barack Obama, co-stars with Davis in the film. Fagbenle is most recognized for his performance in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but he has also acted in the films “Black Widow” and “Black Swan” this year.
Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays Betty Ford in the film, joined the cast in January of this year (via Deadline). Pfeiffer is a veteran actress who has most recently acted in the films “French Exit” in 2020 and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” in 2018. With Aaron Eckhart, who will portray former President Gerald Ford, Pfeiffer will be a formidable duo.
“Wander,” which will be released in 2020, and “Line of Duty,” which will be released in 2019. Following in the footsteps of the other First Ladies is Gillian Anderson in the role of Eleanor Roosevelt, as reported by Deadline. Anderson was just awarded an Emmy for her depiction of Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of “The Crown,” for which she received a nomination (per Entertainment Weekly).
Anderson will be paired with Kiefer Sutherland, who will portray former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Sutherland’s most recent acting credits include the drama series “The Fugitive” and another narrative involving the American presidency, “Designated Survivor.”
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In addition to Dakota Fanning (“The Alienist”) as Susan Ford, Judy Greer (“Hollywood Kills”) as Betty Ford’s confidante Nancy Howe, Regina Taylor (“Lovecraft Country”) as Michelle Obama’s Marian Shields Robinson, and Lily Rabe (“American Horror Story”) as journalist Lorena Hickok, the film also features a diverse cast of supporting characters. In addition, Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) portrays young Michelle, Kristin Froseth (“Looking for Alaska”) portrays young Betty, and Eliza Scanlen (“Old,” “Little Women”) portrays young Eleanor, all of whom are played by the same actress.
What Will the First Lady Be About?
First Lady” will focus on “America’s charismatic and complex and vibrant First Ladies,” according to the official Showtime site for the series. Episodes reveal the “personal and political lives” of “three unique, intriguing women, chronicling their paths to Washington through interconnecting tales with an insightful closeness”
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Cathy Schulman came up with the idea for the series after reading Aaron Cooley’s spec script about Lady Bird Johnson, Deadline reports. For Schulman’s Welle Entertainment, which aims to highlight women’s tales and opinions, the series is an ideal fit. As for the new show, “First Ladies” would “look at American history’s presidencies through the prism of women—the first ladies.”
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We can expect these narratives to span decades and provide us a glimpse into the younger years of the first ladies and their husbands, given that all of the key parts have younger actors also portraying them. Other major events in American history will be seen via a female lens, which will provide us with additional insight into their significance. Each president and first lady are under a lot of scrutiny and pressure in their respective professions, so there is certain to be some inter-family friction.
Is There a Trailer for the First Lady?
There are images of Obama dancing with an unknown woman and posing for her famous First Lady portrait, Ford bickering with her husband, and Roosevelt putting her husband FDR in his place (you go, girl!) (who is presumably Lorena Hickok, the woman suspected to have been her lover.)
With all three ladies stressing that they’re going to take on the role of First Lady on their own terms, Pfeiffer as Ford says, “The first lady must be a special kind of woman.” ‘They can kick me out, but they can’t make me somebody I’m not,’ says Ford in the teaser, while Obama asserts, “I will pick my team, I will choose my causes, understood?
